Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1887-09-04
An Exploded Argument.
No "Ditch" Job Possible Under
the Law Provided for Incor-
porating Cities.
The Alarmist's Invention Effec-
tually Disposed OF and the OPP
position out Of Ammunition.

Concerning the Purchase Of bitches, Etc.
The main argument Of those oppos-
ed TO incorporation 10 that 1t is q
for the Ditch company to unload their
stock on the taxpayers and step out Of
their investment without loss. II is
heard everywhere and unfortunately
believed by many who do not read
and take the oracular utterances of
others for law and gospel. The fact
that the Leighton and Jordan interest
the largest holders Of ditch stock
are favorably inclined toward incor-
poration lends color to this argument
among those who cannot soc beyond
the ends Of their noses, and who are
30 innoculated with old prejduices that
they take no note Of the progress of
events and tenaciously cling to old
issues that were buried years sgo. II
asked for q foundation for their belief
III tnie schelho anu I've Pioe''eaoh'y
they VIII tell yon that two years ago
Leighton and Jordan were opposed to
incorporation and now they are in
favor OF 10. This remarkable change
OF opinion is to them incomprehensi-
Die and IN their efforts 70 comprehend
It they ind In the incorporation bill
this section which they refer to in the
belief that 1t is complete grounds for
the accusation they make. Sec. VI
reads as follows:
ANY incorporated city or town In
this territory organized under this
act shall have power to purchase or
lease any canal or ditch already con.
structed, or any water right, and all
the rights, privileges and franchises
pertaining thereto, and hold and oper.
ate the same in the same manner as
the persons or corporation from whom
the same may be purchased may do;
Such purchase or lease shall
be made for the purpose of supplying
water for the use of the city or town."
Here they stop and with an assur-
ance born Of ignorance Of the true con-
dition Of affairs they ask you, If 1t is
not clear to anyone that the interest
the ditch owners have In incorporation
is not explained by this. Possibly 1t
would be a good argument whether
true ornot If the power to purchase
was vested in the council, As we all
know 1. is possible to influence an
election for alderman, 90 that a major
ity of them may be Of one mind on
certain questions, but fortunately for
the people and for the cause 81 incor-
poration, the section above quoted con-
tains another clause, which.so qualities
and governs what precedes 1t as to
completely nullify the argument that
the ditch people have any hope or
chance to dispose Of their stock to the
city. The concluding paragraph Is as
follows: "dnd Provided further,
That majority Of The qualified etec-
tors OF the city or to'0n at any regular
election, or at a special election held
for the purpose, shall vote in favor ct
such lease or purchase" II requires
majority vote Of the people to carry
any such measure, and no greater safe
guard against such q job rs Is here
spprehended could be thrown up. 1t
can therefore be seen ut glance how
fanoiful and imaginary this ground
for opposition to incorporation is. In
fact 1t has no existence whatt ever
There are no doubt those who believe
that this section was introduced into
the bill by the ditch people with di.
rect reference to the condition of af'
fairs In Miles City. Yet there are To-
calities In this territory where there
are twenty bitches to our one land
that one unfinished and coniessedly
Impracticabls) where this section is Of
vastly more importa nee than II is in
Miles City.